Barotropic FRW cosmologies with a Dirac-like parameter

Using the known connection between Schroedinger-like equations and Dirac-like equations in the supersymmetric context, we discuss an extension of FRW barotropic cosmologies in which a Dirac mass-like parameter is introduced. New Hubble cosmological parameters H_K(eta) depending on the Dirac-like parameter are plotted and compared with the standard Hubble case H_0(eta). The new H_K(eta) are complex quantities. The imaginary part is a supersymmetric way of introducing dissipation and instabilities in the barotropic FRW hydrodynamicsComment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted at MPL

Riccati nonhermiticity with application to the Morse potential

A supersymmetric one-dimensional matrix procedure similar to relationships of the same type between Dirac and Schrodinger equations in particle physics is described at the general level. By this means we are able to introduce a nonhermitic Hamiltonian having the imaginary part proportional to the solution of a Riccati equation of the Witten type. The procedure is applied to the exactly solvable Morse potential introducing in this way the corresponding nonhermitic Morse problem. A possible application is to molecular diffraction in evanescent waves over nanostructured surfacesComment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Classical harmonic oscillator with Dirac-like parameters and possible applications

We obtain a class of parametric oscillation modes that we call K-modes with damping and absorption that are connected to the classical harmonic oscillator modes through the "supersymmetric" one-dimensional matrix procedure similar to relationships of the same type between Dirac and Schroedinger equations in particle physics. When a single coupling parameter, denoted by K, is used, it characterizes both the damping and the dissipative features of these modes. Generalizations to several K parameters are also possible and lead to analytical results. If the problem is passed to the physical optics (and/or acoustics) context by switching from the oscillator equation to the corresponding Helmholtz equation, one may hope to detect the K-modes as waveguide modes of specially designed waveguides and/or cavitiesComment: 14 pages, 9 figures, revised, accepted at J. Phys.

Detection of Anomalous Microwave Emission in the Pleiades Reflection Nebula with WMAP and the COSMOSOMAS Experiment

We present evidence for anomalous microwave emission (AME) in the Pleiades reflection nebula, using data from the seven-year release of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and from the COSMOSOMAS experiment. The flux integrated in a 1-degree radius around R.A.=56.24^{\circ}, Dec.=23.78^{\circ} (J2000) is 2.15 +/- 0.12 Jy at 22.8 GHz, where AME is dominant. COSMOSOMAS data show no significant emission, but allow to set upper limits of 0.94 and 1.58 Jy (99.7% C.L.) respectively at 10.9 and 14.7 GHz, which are crucial to pin down the AME spectrum at these frequencies, and to discard any other emission mechanisms which could have an important contribution to the signal detected at 22.8 GHz. We estimate the expected level of free-free emission from an extinction-corrected H-alpha template, while the thermal dust emission is characterized from infrared DIRBE data and extrapolated to microwave frequencies. When we deduct the contribution from these two components at 22.8 GHz the residual flux, associated with AME, is 2.12 +/- 0.12 Jy (17.7-sigma). The spectral energy distribution from 10 to 60 GHz can be accurately fitted with a model of electric dipole emission from small spinning dust grains distributed in two separated phases of molecular and atomic gas, respectively. The dust emissivity, calculated by correlating the 22.8 GHz data with 100-micron data, is found to be 4.36+/-0.17 muK/MJy/sr, a value that is rather low compared with typical values in dust clouds. The physical properties of the Pleiades nebula indicate that this is indeed a much less opaque object than others were AME has usually been detected. This fact, together with the broad knowledge of the stellar content of this region, provides an excellent testbed for AME characterization in physical conditions different from those generally explored up to now.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 12 pages, 8 figure

Constraining the Origin of Local Positrons with HAWC TeV Gamma-Ray Observations of Two Nearby Pulsar Wind Nebulae

The HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory has reported the discovery of TeV gamma-ray emission extending several degrees around the positions of Geminga and B0656+14 pulsars. Assuming these gamma rays are produced by inverse Compton scattering off low-energy photons in electron halos around the pulsars, we determine the diffusion of electrons and positrons in the local interstellar medium. We will present the morphological and spectral studies of these two VHE gamma-ray sources and the derived positron spectrum at Earth.Comment: Presented at the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2017), Bexco, Busan, Korea. See arXiv:1708.02572 for all HAWC contribution

HD 85567: A Herbig B[e] star or an interacting B[e] binary

Context. HD 85567 is an enigmatic object exhibiting the B[e] phenomenon, i.e. an infrared excess and forbidden emission lines in the optical. The object's evolutionary status is uncertain and there are conflicting claims that it is either a young stellar object or an evolved, interacting binary. Aims. To elucidate the reason for the B[e] behaviour of HD 85567, we have observed it with the VLTI and AMBER. Methods. Our observations were conducted in the K-band with moderate spectral resolution (R~1500, i.e. 200 km/s). The spectrum of HD 85567 exhibits Br gamma and CO overtone bandhead emission. The interferometric data obtained consist of spectrally dispersed visibilities, closure phases and differential phases across these spectral features and the K-band continuum. Results. The closure phase observations do not reveal evidence of asymmetry. The apparent size of HD 85567 in the K-band was determined by fitting the visibilities with a ring model. The best fitting radius, 0.8 +/- 0.3 AU, is relatively small making HD 85567 undersized in comparison to the size-luminosity relationship based on YSOs of low and intermediate luminosity. This has previously been found to be the case for luminous YSOs, and it has been proposed that this is due to the presence of an optically thick gaseous disc. We demonstrate that the differential phase observations over the CO bandhead emission are indeed consistent with the presence of a compact (~1 AU) gaseous disc interior to the dust sublimation radius. Conclusions. The observations reveal no sign of binarity. However, the data do indicate the presence of a gaseous disc interior to the dust sublimation radius. We conclude that the data are consistent with the hypothesis that HD 85567 is a YSO with an optically thick gaseous disc within a larger dust disc that is being photo-evaporated from the outer edge.Comment: Accepted for publication in A &

An Unfinished Canvas: Arts Education in California: Taking Stock of Policies and Practices

Provides an overview of K-12 arts education, including course offerings; availability of teachers, facilities, and materials; standards alignment, assessment, and accountability practices; and equal access. Discusses barriers and recommendations

SUPERSYMMETRY REACH OF AN UPGRADED TEVATRON COLLIDER

We examine the capability of a $\sqrt{s}=2$ TeV Tevatron $p\bar p$ collider to discover supersymmetry, given a luminosity upgrade to amass $25\ fb^{-1}$ of data. We compare with the corresponding reach of the Tevatron Main Injector ($1\ fb^{-1}$ of data). Working within the framework of minimal supergravity with gauge coupling unification and radiative electroweak symmetry breaking, we first calculate the regions of parameter space accessible via the clean trilepton signal from \tw_1\tz_2\to 3\ell +\eslt production, with detailed event generation of both signal and major physics backgrounds. The trilepton signal can allow equivalent gluino masses of up to $m_{\tg}\sim 600-700$ GeV to be probed if $m_0$ is small. If $m_0$ is large, then $m_{\tg}\sim 500$ GeV can be probed for $\mu 0$ and large values of $m_0$, the rate for \tz_2\to\tz_1\ell\bar{\ell} is suppressed by interference effects, and there is {\it no} reach in this channel. We also examine regions where the signal from \tw_1\overline{\tw_1}\to \ell\bar{\ell}+\eslt is detectable. Although this signal is background limited, it is observable in some regions where the clean trilepton signal is too small. Finally, the signal \tw_1\tz_2\to jets+\ell\bar{\ell} +\eslt can confirm the clean trilepton signal in a substantial subset of the parameter space where the trilepton signal can be seen. We note that although the clean trilepton signal may allow Tevatron experiments to identify signals in regions of parameter space beyond the reach of LEP II, the dilepton channels generally probe much the same region as LEP II.Comment: 19 page REVTEX file; a uuencoded PS file with PS figures is available via anonymous ftp at ftp://hep.fsu.edu/preprints/baer/FSUHEP950301.u